"I do see this as a way for us as a chamber saying that this is another tool that we can give to a teacher that they can use to enhance what they already have,'' said Rep. Pam Staneski, a Republican from Milford who has a bachelor's degree in elementary education and who voted in favor of the bill.

Labor unions have been pushing for such a curriculum for several years, but previous attempts fell short. In addition to highlighting the achievements of Cesar Chavez, who organized farm workers in the fields of California, and A. Philip Randolph, who led the sleeping car porters, the bill also directs the education department to develop a curriculum on free market capitalism and its role in developing the U.S. economy.

Critics say already overburdened school officials shouldn't be presented with yet another requirement that could drain resources away from core educational subjects. "Are we going to make the school day longer ... because this is a whole new aspect of teaching history?" asked Rep. Sam Belsito, R-Tolland. "Most students ... cannot even tell you who the first president of the United States was and now we're going to talk about labor unions and what they've done for our country."

The Senate approved a bill Wednesday that directs the state Department of Education to provide schools with a curriculum on labor history.

"This is critically important for people to understand...

HARTFORD — Samuel Gompers, Big Bill Haywood and the Pullman porters may be coming to a classroom near you.

The Senate approved a bill Wednesday that directs the state Department of Education to provide schools with a curriculum on labor history.

"This is critically important for people to understand...

(DANIELA ALTIMARI)

But supporters point out that the bill does not require schools to teach the curriculum; it simply directs the state education department to provide it.

State Rep. Edwin Vargas, who spent 35 years teaching social studies in the Hartford public schools, said the labor curriculum is part of a larger trend that focuses on the historical contributions of everyday people.

"Traditionally, history has been taught from the point of view of the kings, the queens, presidents, the captains of industry," said Vargas, a Democrat from Hartford. "Lately we've incorporated the impact of the women suffragists, the civil rights movement."

The vote in the House was 84-61; it came a week after the state Senate passed the measure. A spokesman for Malloy said the governor is reviewing the legislation.

Boating Safety

Also on Monday, the House gave final legislative approval to a bill that places new restrictions on young boaters.

The measure, which cleared the chamber on a unanimous vote, establishes a minimum age of 16 for anyone towing a water skier or tuber.

The bill is known as "Emily's Law.'' It was proposed in response to the death of Emily Fedorko, a 16-year-old who was riding on a tube on Long Island Sound off the coast of Greenwich. The tube was being towed behind a 21-foot powerboat with a 200-horsepower outboard motor, driven by another 16-year-old girl. Emily was struck by the propeller and died of her injuries.

The legislation requires those operating a boat used to tow a water skier or tuber to have a safe-boating certificate issued by the U.S. Coast Guard and a safe water skiing endorsement certificate issued by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

"It is the hope that these provisions will improve boating safety in the future,'' said Rep. James Albis, co-chairman of the legislature's environment committee.